Utada Hikaru is back! "Fantôme" new album

Finally here!

After years of waiting, Utada Hikaru has a new full album.  I just got it yesterday in the mail.  Had to open my CD player after years of disuse.  The automated opening mechanism of the CD player lid didn't work anymore so I had to manually nudge the lid open.  Listening to it... it is pure Utada.  It's more instrumental, less bumpy and electronic or rockish.  It's a little bit more subdued than her previous albums.  I did look on the internet to check out the translations of the lyrics.  The lyrics involve a lot of references to a lost loved one which probably involves the somewhat recent suicide of her mother.  It is not all melancholy, but sort of gives a wistful, sometimes playful feeling.  Going to listen to it some more.

"YURI!!! on ICE"

This anime looks amazing. Just watched episode one on Crunchyroll and can't wait to see the rest of the season. The animation is fluid, the characters are pretty (mostly hot guys), and the show seems to have humor and an engaging story. Plus male figure skating. Boom.

"Sekai Ichi Muzukashii Koi"

Just discovered this currently airing J-drama, "Sekai Ichi Muzukashi Koi" starring Satoshi Ohno of Arashi boyband fame.  He plays a heartless hotel magnate who cares little about others until he falls in love with a new employee.  In order to win her heart, he changes himself to become a more caring person.  A helpful and wise secretary and faithful chauffeur cheer him on in his quest to win her heart.  It's a ridiculous but nonetheless, charming love story. Just saw episode five and can't wait to see what happens next.

Utada Hikaru is back!

Two new songs were released recently, both are theme songs for two Japanese television shows.  I could only find little snippets of them on Hikki's website here.  http://www.utadahikaru.jp/release/index_e.htm

"ERASED"

Thriller...with kids?

Beside "Showa Genroku Rakujo Shinjuu" the anime to watch this season is "ERASED."  Satoru is a mild mannered pizza delivery guy/mangaka...with the ability to go back in time to prevent accidents.  Just a few minutes, just enough to say, save someone from being hurt in a car accident.  Crimes that happened during childhood come back to haunt him when his mother becomes involved in a possible recurrence of the crimes.  Satoru goes back in time 18 years to become his 10 year old self.  Can he protect the victims from the past and his mother in the future?  The show is very well paced, almost like a well paced movie thriller. Each episode ends in a cliffhanger that leaves you frustrated that you have to wait another week to see more.  There is something compelling about these little kids confronting these life and death situations with their limited power as children.  The time travel gimmick actually works and gives a sense tension as if watching a live action movie.  Hopefully, the show will not crash and burn at the end, which is entirely possible with these types of plot driven shows.  Waiting for episode 8 right now...

"Showa Genroku Rakujo Shinjuu" anime

A refreshing change of pace from moe girls and idol shows, "Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu" is a show for adults.  A man is released from prison and he goes straight to a rakugo master to learn the art of rakugo.  The show then flashes back to the master's youth and his training in rakugo.  I only learned about rakugo from watching this anime.  It's a one man comical play where the man sits on his knees on the stage the whole time while acting all the parts himself.  The art is sensational.  It's based on a manga by Haruko Kumota, who is actually a famous BL mangaka.  But this is not BL.  Although with the art style, it feels like it could turn that way very quickly, but never quite does.  There is a close relationship depicted between two male characters, but most of relationship seems to be one man's struggle to compete with another's natural ability to perform rakugo.  There are a lot of long sequences of one character doing 5 to 10 minute rakugo bits, which can be off putting for some.  But I find watching these let's me enjoy a Japanese pastime that I will never be able to enjoy in person.  So far, I've watched the six episodes available.  So far most of the show has been in flashback mode.  I know there will be an upcoming tragedy and the way the show slowly reveals the upcoming tragedy is very subtle.  I look forward to every episode each week.

"Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt" episode 1 streaming limited time

For North America, the first episode is streaming for free from December 25 12pm Japan time to January 7 12 pm Japan time on YouTube.  The art style reminds me of the old "Aeon Flux" I watched on MTV back in the day.  There is a whole backdrop of jazz music which reminds me of "Cowboy Bebop."  The animation is stellar and looks great in HD.  The language is a bit stilted, but I'm not sure if it's the writing for the English translation.  There is so much action and new character introduction I'm a little lost on the plot so I plan to watch it again.  I wonder what the plan is to stream this series.  Pay per view?  My hope is that it will be on Crunchyroll, but who knows.

"JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable" anime is coming!

Here is the new PV!  I like the new art style!  Can't wait for April 2016.

RoBoHoN -- the future of robot phones

At first, I was a little creeped out by this, but now I kind of have a desire to get one.

"Attack on Titan: Junior High" is a thing

Super cute, but still waiting for season 2!